MISS LILLAH MCCARTHY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15919, 5 June 1917, Page 2

MISS LILLAH MCCARTHY.

SUIT FOR RESTITUTION. PATHETIC LETTERS. (FItOII OUK OVwV COBCESFOXDEXT.) LONDON. April 20. In the Divorce Court yesterday Miss Lillah McCarthy, the actress, prayed for a decree of restitution of conjugal rights against- Mr J larlrv Granville Barker. The. suit was undefended. Mr Hume Williams, in his opening statement, said that tho petitioner was married to the respondent on April 24th, 19CK), and she lived happily with him in London. There wore no children of the marriage. In December, 1914, they went together to tho United States of America. There the respondent became acquainted with a lady by whom he was very much attracted. His conduct towards the petitioner changed, and became cold and neglectful, instead of kind and considerate, as before, lie told her that he had formed an attachment for someone else, but ho was good enough to state that he did not think thgt it would last. In June, 1915, they returned to England, and tlireo months later tho respondent went back to America. In January, 191G, ho wrote a letter to the petitioner, in which he stated definitely that his attachment to the lady was still existing. By the end of January, 1916, the respondent had returned to England, but had refused to resume marital relations with the petitioner. Last December the petitioner wrote as follows: — "My dear Harley,—You can realise, I am sure, liow difficult this letter is for me to write. During our wonderful ten years of married happiness and partnership in work, we were such loyal, true companions to each other, that I fcpn> scarcely believe that you have definitely made up your mind to cast it all .-.•side. Is our work together to count for nothing., or our deep understanding for one another? Come back to mo and let us live together ncnin. I- will do all in my power +o help you in tlie -fut'-'-e, as I have always done in the past." In reply came the following letter from respondent:— f 'My dear Lillah, —I have your letter asking me to come back to you. I cannot do it. It is generous of you, after our estrangement, to ask me, but —as I see it —I 6hould be wrong to come. I can never think lightly cf all that w'as good in our life and work together. There is much that I have to thank yon for, I do tlmnk you for, and always shall. But things change. It is foolish merely to deal out blame, hecaus* the ultimate causes are often beyond our control, still, any blame there is for what has happened I take, and let all that so far be done with. But it is no tree trying to patch it up. I can see why you think it is your duty to try. and I am sure you sincerely feel that*we could. One cannot recreate things in s;ich a way, and the attempt would/indeed, spoil the and all good memories of it. So. it is for both our sakes. I have quite- made up my mind I cannot come back to you, and this must be my final word." The petitioner having b«rne_ out her counsel's statement. Mr Justice Hill pronounced a decree of restitution of conjugal rights with costs.